
Seisi n returns to RT One and RT Player from Friday 26 September at 8pm with four incredible nights of live music from four legendary venues. The rich musical heritage of R is n Dubh in Galway, DeBarra's in Clonakilty, The Spirit Store in Dundalk and Cleere's Bar and Theatre in Kilkenny takes centre stage, as musician and presenter Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh showcases the bands, singers and songwriters with connections to these iconic independent venues.
The series will see Bell X1, The Hothouse Flowers, Jack Lukeman, Mary Coughlan, Sharon Shannon, The Cardinals, John Spillane, Ryan Sheridan and Gurriers take to the stage, along with trailblazing new talent including IML , The Kates, Annika Kilkenny, Rawney and Dug.
At the heart of each of these venues are the passionate individuals who've kept the stage lights burning, through good times and bad. Gugai McNamara of the R is n Dubh and Ray Blackwell of DeBarra's discuss the vital role that music venues play as cultural lifelines and platforms for emerging bands. Johnny Holden of Cleere's reflects on the venue's legacy in championing new musical talent, while Derek Turner of the Spirit Store and DeBarras' Bobby Blackwell recall the infamous artists who lit up the stage and took over the bar!
Tune in for a celebration of the unsung heroes of Irish music, the venues that have stood the test of time and nurtured the country's most gifted artists. A feast of music awaits on Seisi n!
Seisi n begins on Friday 26 September at 8pm on RT One and RT Player.
-ENDS-
For more information:
adaoin Nic Giolla Chomhaill, RT Communications Lead, eadaoin.nicgiolla@rte.ie, 0876219781
Notes to Editors:
IMAGES: https://we.tl/t-TPS3zWxuBL
A preview of each episode is available on request.
Episode 1 Roisin Dubh, Galway
Join renowned singer and presenter Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh in the Roisin Dubh in the heart of Galway City. This iconic music venue has been a staple of the Irish music scene for over 40 years and Gugai McNamara has been programming some of Ireland's leading contemporary music talent for over 20 years. In this programme, musicians flock to celebrate The R is n Dubh, including legendary band Bell X1 who return to the stage and pay homage to one of their favourite venues. The effervescent Sharon Shannon delivers a flavour of traditional music, while the indominable Mary Coughlan performs and describes the R is n as her spiritual stage. Exciting new talent IML and other local artists grace the stage, including new rap/funk music as Gaeilge, and Muireann meets the man behind the music, Gugai McNamara.
Episode 2 DeBarras, Clonakilty
Episode two takes us to the infamous DeBarra's in Clonakilty, a family run music hub welcoming music lovers for over 50 years. The owner, Ray Blackwell and founding proprietor Bobby Blackwel recall how Noel Redding, the Jimmy Hendrix Experience bass player held court at the venue for nearly 20 years, attracting national and international talent. John Spillane and his Band of Wrens make the pilgrimage to perform in Debarra's for this episode, as he has done for the past 23 years. New kids on the block The Cardinals from Kinsale also deliver a stellar performance from the intimate stage. With performances from some of West Cork's' most talented traditional musicians including Jimmy Murray and Richard Lucey and local singer songwriter Rawney, this episode has local talent all over it. Finally, The Kates rock the stage with their five piece all female ensemble of local musicians with a unique harmonious sound.
Episode 3 The Spirit Store, Dundalk
Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh continues her exploration of independent and family run live music venues in The Spirit Store, a music venue of renown pulsating with a musical legacy. Many influential and cutting-edge acts cut their teeth in this unique dockside venue in the heart of Dundalk's commercial port. Performances from some of Spirit Stores' stalwarts include the singer-songwriter Jack Lukeman, the innovative Irish music group, Shy Mascot and brothers Saran and Tadhg Mulligan on the fiddle and concertina. Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh revamps a classic, with accompaniment from renowned local musician Donal O'Connor. The acclaimed postpunk band, Gurriers blow the doors of this episode with their new release Erasure. Muireann also meets Derek Turner, the musical manager who has helped to curate this unique music hall from within the confines of an old Dockers pub and two bedrooms knocked into one.
Ep 4 JJ Cleeres Kilkenny
In the heart of Kilkenny city, JJ Cleere's is an iconic Irish traditional and folk music venue. The magnificent Hothouse Flowers bring the house down with a rousing set of some of their classics, returning to what they describe as one of their favourite rooms in the country. Anthony McCauley and Paddy Cleere bring a real taste of Kilkenny's thriving traditional music scene. Rising stars Dug and Annika Kilkenny share stunning renditions of some of their own compositions, and Ryan Sheridan delivers another one of his special performances on a special night in Kilkenny.
Seisi n is produced by Hedgerow Films in association with Whitethorn Productions for RT , with support from Coimisi n na Me n.
More from RTE
05/12/2025
The Grinch steals the spotlight as the theme for The Late Late Toy Show 2025
Tune in tonight at 9:35pm on RT One and worldwide on RT Player
#LateLateToyShow...
05/12/2025
RT Announces New Presenters of Flagship News Programmes
New RT Six One News co-presenter Tommy Meskill
Sarah McInerney & Justin McCarthy join Morning Ir...
04/12/2025
Following today's EBU Winter General Assembly in Geneva at which Israel's participation in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest was confirmed, RT 's pos...
04/12/2025
The ninth series of Dancing with the Stars returns to screens in early
2026 and will be proudly sponsored by Hyundai
Filling our Sunday evenings with glitz an...
03/12/2025
S an Nollaig
Celebrate 2025's top Irish sporting stars with RT Sport Awards live from RT Studios on RT One and RT Player
RT pays tribute to Ror...
02/12/2025
S an Nollaig
Hollywood blockbusters The Banshees of Inisherin, Barbie and Oppenheimer make their Irish TV debut
Tune into the classics such as Love Actual...
02/12/2025
Showcasing fresh Irish storytelling and emerging talent Storyland 2025 signals a fantastic time for Irish drama
RT and F s ireann/Screen Ireland are proud to...
01/12/2025
As the festive season approaches, RT Supporting the Arts is proud to showcase a...
01/12/2025
Festive specials of Christmas in Kilmainham presented by Marty Whelan, High Road Low Road, Callan Kicks the Year and Keys to My Life
Ring in the New Year with ...
01/12/2025
Architect and television presenter Hugh Wallace, best known to RT audiences as a long-serving judge on Home of the Year, has died at the age of 68.
In a state...
28/11/2025
Unwrapped: The Toy Show Appeal - airing this Sunday on RT One and RT Player- s...
27/11/2025
World champion boxer and Irish sporting icon Katie Taylor will be in studio this...
27/11/2025
Roblox, one of the world's most popular online gaming platforms for primary ...
24/11/2025
Ahead of the new ninth series of Dancing with the Stars, kicking off in January 2026, RT and Shinawil have announced the arrival of three new faces to the hit ...
20/11/2025
It's the Late Late Toy Show BIG BIG Ticket Giveaway day!
It's the Late ...
20/11/2025
The How To Gael pocast gals, comedian Chris Kent and quizzer Darragh Ennis drop by for the fifth episode of The 2 Johnnies Late Night Lock In
In the penultimat...
20/11/2025
Tonight on RT Prime Time, Marie Crowe on how a Reading School changed her son...
19/11/2025
Michael D. Higgins: Ireland's Ninth President features RT Archives footage and interviews across seven decades
Watch Wednesday 19 November at 9:35pm on RT...
18/11/2025
DJ Carey: The Dodger starts Monday 24th November at 9.35pm on RT One and RT Pl...
14/11/2025
The Late Late Toy Show blasts off!
RT launches The Late Late Toy Show's of...
13/11/2025
Legendary actor and proud Irishman Gabriel Byrne will be in studio this week to ...
13/11/2025
Tonight's crucial Republic of Ireland World Cup qualifier v Portugal at the ...
13/11/2025
In the fourth episode of The 2 Johnnies Late Night Lock In the lads are joined b...
12/11/2025
RT Choice Music Prize
In association with IMRO and IRMA
2 0 2 6 K E Y D A T E S
Irish Album of the Year 2025 Shortlist 19th January
Irish Song of the ...
12/11/2025
Parents jailed for over two years after bringing their daughter to hospital for ...
11/11/2025
After international award wins, the much-loved children's series returns with 13 brand new episodes with some very special children and guests including Ros...
10/11/2025
76 animals. Six locations. Two Irish stars. One Pet Mobile.
From surfing dogs t...
07/11/2025
SLEIGH BELLS RING ARE YOU WINNING?
THE LATE LATE TOY SHOW BIG BIG TICKET GIVEAWAY EXCLUSIVE ACROSS RT CHANNELS
On Friday 21 November, listeners across all R...
06/11/2025
RT Announces Alex Walden as General Manager of the
RTE Concert Orchestra
Alex Walden, renowned orchestra manager, most recently for the BBC Concert Orche...
06/11/2025
Actors Steve Coogan and anna Hardwicke will be on the Late Late Show this week ...
06/11/2025
In the third episode of The 2 Johnnies Late Night Lock In actor Danny O'Carr...
05/11/2025
New schedule will be live on-air Monday 10 November
Brand-new Today with David McCullagh from 9am
Oliver Callan in all-new extended show from 11am to 1pm
Kie...
05/11/2025
Explore the future with Science Week on RT
Dive into a week of innovative, themed programming and content across RT television, radio and online
Includes a ...
05/11/2025
Get ready for six weeks of United FC, a brand-new, feel-good teen docuseries kic...
04/11/2025
Begins Thursday November 6 on RT One and RT Player at 10:15pm
Camogie: Inside...
03/11/2025
They've made that decision and ruined an awful lot of people's lives.
...
31/10/2025
The RT Raidi na Gaeltachta Award 2025 will be presented to journalist P il n N Chiar in at the Oireachtas na Samhna in Belfast tomorrow, Saturday 1 November,...
31/10/2025
RT lyric fm is calling for choirs across Ireland to share their festive music-m...
31/10/2025
Three awards were presented to RT Raidi na Gaeltachta broadcasters at the Oire...
31/10/2025
RT continues its proud tradition of championing Ireland's vibrant arts and cultural landscape through its RT Supporting the Arts initiative. This November...
31/10/2025
RT selects Irish independent production company to produce Christian Worship on...
30/10/2025
RT Concert Orchestra in November and December
Collaborations with RT Radio 1's Sunday Miscellany (2 December) and RT 2FM's Late Breakfast (9 Decembe...
30/10/2025
Johnny B and Johnny Smacks are back tonight for the second episode of the new se...
30/10/2025
First look of Jon Bon Jovi's interview with Patrick Kielty
Jon Bon Jovi is ...
29/10/2025
RT PUBLISHES 2024 ANNUAL REPORT
RT REPORTS NET SURPLUS OF 5.5 MILLION IN 2024
A YEAR WITH MANY SPECIAL EVENTS UEFA EUROS 2024, THE OLYMPICS AND PARALYMP...
24/10/2025
FIRST PLACE AND 5,000 LYNDA McCARTHY FOR WITNESS'
SECOND PLACE AND 4,000 ANGELA FINN FOR A SPECTRUM OF SORROW'
THIRD PLACE AND 3,000 IAN FE...
24/10/2025
RT will provide extensive coverage of the results of the Presidential Election across television, radio and online on Saturday, 25 October 2025.
Throughout th...
24/10/2025
New Coaches, New Families and New Challenges Set for Ireland's Fittest Famil...
24/10/2025
Westlife, Imelda May and Ben Elton among the guests on this week's Late Late...